Maine's Underwater Rockweed Forest

Maine's Underwater Rockweed Forest was chosen for the Beneath the Waves Film Festival, Norfolk, VA; March 2012.

Musician announces co-funding benefit for The Rockweed Coalition!

What is rockweed?

Rockweed is a seaweed growing between high and low tide levels on northern Atlantic shores. Rockweed forms habitat for over 150 species of shorebirds, seabirds, ducks, fish, and invertebrates.

What are the issues?

1. Is rockweed harvesting "sustainable"? Rockweed Review paper just published.
   
   
2. What are the impacts of cutting rockweed?
   • Read the 2012 review paper
   • Download the 2011 summary
     
     
3. Who owns the rockweed, and why don't rockweed harvesters ask permission before they take rockweed, or compensate landowners for what they take?
   
   
4. What is special about Cobscook Bay? Cobscook Bay has the highest biodiversity of any area on the eastern seaboard of the United States north of the tropics.

Sector and Protected Lands Map (Maine Coast Heritage Trust; updated May 2011) shows rockweed sectors and all lands in Cobscook Bay where rockweed cutting is prohibited under Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6803-C. This map also shows Rockweed Registry lands where landowners are on record as prohibiting rockweed cutting on their lands.

Report unwanted harvesting or harvesting in conservation areas toll free: 1-888-4ROKWEED (1-888-476-5933)

Rockweed Coalition Mission Statement: The Rockweed Coalition is a coalition of citizens working to promote conservation of intertidal marine habitat, and to end commercial cutting and removal of rockweed (the intertidal seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum) until studies can demonstrate that cutting rockweed does not harm the ecosystem.